Story #2: The Phantom
Me: Whether you've seen the movie, bought a ticket to see the infamous Broadway musical, read the classic novel, read R.L. Stine's Goosebumps spinoff, or seen a little Jack-Russell terrier dog play the role of main protagonists in classic literature, virtually everyone knows about the love triangle between Christine Daae, Raoul, and a saboteur known as the Phantom of the Opera. While romantic, we never seem to think that any being in reality could be that fickle and jealous. Of course, we're wrong.
Gregory Davidson is a hotshot thespian. He loves the attention of the ladies, and always gets the part he wants. Even if that means stepping on a few toes, but he's about the step on the toes…of someone who who's going to stomp back….
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Stephanie: (narrating) My good friend, Willard Stevens, was a well-versed actor and loved to read plays and classic literature. He could say the name "William Shakespeare" backwards, he knew every delicacy and dance number that went with them in "The Nutcracker Suite," and practically lived to see Broadway musicals when they came to neighboring cities. His favorite author however was Charles Dickens, and he was ecstatic when a local theater was holding auditions for "David Copperfield."
Willard: "Whether I shall run…" No, no, no! That's not right! It's "Whether I shall turn," not "run!" Ugh! I can't believe this! I've read Charles Dickens from "Barnaby Rudge" to "Wreck of the Golden Mary!" How can I not get this down?!
Stephanie: Be patient, Willard. The directors don't want perfect, they just want good.
Willard: Hmph! More like they want Gregory Davidson! HE always gets the good parts! He got Captain Ahab in "Moby Dick!" He got Romeo! He got to wear a pulley system on his back to be Peter Pan when we were in Elementary School! And he's not even that good! He just has those good-looks and charm that the teachers and directors smile at not giving a damn about intelligence or talent!
Stephanie: (narrating) It was true. Gregory Davidson was a bit of a show-off. Always was come to think of it. He always liked to rub in the faces of everyone that he was handsome, rich, and always got what he wanted. He had dated every cheerleader in high school, and he was always receiving things he didn't seem to deserve. What's more, whenever he did cause trouble, he always got away with it.
Willard: Well not this time! This time I'm going to rehearse day and night! I won't let that arrogant jerk get the lead this time!
Gregory: You can read that book all you want, Stevens. It won't stop me from getting the part of David Copperfield.
Stephanie: (narrating) That was Gregory alright. He felt no one was his equal. He was the richest, strongest, and most handsome boy in school. All the ladies liked him for this, but I loathed him. As far as I was concerned, he was nothing but a chauvinistic bully.
Stephanie: Willard will get the part this time, Gregory! He knows Charles Dickens like the back of his hand!
Gregory: That won't help him! This is a Shakespearean play!
Willard: *goes silent then starts to laugh and is soon joined in by Stephanie*
Gregory: What's so funny?!
Stephanie: *laughing* Shakespeare didn't write "David Copperfield" you idiot! Look at the flyer!
Stephanie: (narrating) I pointed to the poster where it specifically read "By: Charles Dickens" on it. The look on Gregory's face was priceless as if he had been preparing for the wrong play all this time!
Stephanie: Well, with you preparing for the wrong play, Gregory, looks like you aren't prepared for this upcoming audition! I guess it's Willard's turn to shine now!
Stephanie: (narrating) But it wasn't. The day of auditioning, Willard didn't even arrive…thanks to Gregory…
In an alleyway near the theater, Willard is walking confidently to audition when suddenly, a big arm grabs and pulls him into the alleyway!
Willard: Hey! What are you doing?!
Gregory: No one gets the lead but me, dweeb! And I'm going to ensure you don't get it!
Gregory drags Willard to a dumpster, throws him inside, and duct tapes the escapes. He chuckles to himself and goes to the theater.
Director: Alright…next to audition we have Willard Stevens. Willard?
Gregory: *enters* Willard contracted a sore throat, sir. I'd be more than happy to take his place.
Stephanie: (narrating) I couldn't believe it. Willard had worked so hard, and now he was sick. Gregory was going to take the lead after all. It was so unfair. After the audition, I turned to a phone intending to call Willard up and apologize to him when Gregory met up with me.
Gregory: Sorry about your friend not getting the part, Stephanie, but don't worry…I just broke up with the last cheerleader, and I'm open to giving a smart girl a chance… *forcefully kisses her*
Stephanie: (narrating) I couldn't believe it! This jerk had the audacity to kiss me without my permission! I was going to shove him off, but…something clicked in my mind. He was actually quite good at this! Now I was beginning to see what all the cheerleaders liked about him as I ceased tensing up and wrapped my arms around his frame when out of the corner of my eye, I saw something that I would regret for the rest of my life…
Willard: *stares through the backstage window in shock and sorrow*
Stephanie: (narrating) I had no idea how long Willard had been standing there, but the look on his face was heartbreaking. I immediately broke from Gregory and rushed to apologize, but Willard had already left. I felt so guilty. I had planned to tell him that Gregory kissed me without my permission when he calmed down, but I had no idea what he was going to do next.
In the backstage area of the theater, a silhouette of William is seen taking a spare curtain rope, hoisting it over an overhead beam, making a noose, putting his neck into it, and jumping as the image cuts to black.
Stephanie: (narrating) It was horrible the next day. One of the custodians of the theater found Willard's body dangling by the neck on a rope. Everybody grieved at the funeral, and there was consideration given to stopping production altogether. Unfortunately, this play was our membership into a contest with other theaters, and the show had to go on. During rehearsals, Gregory was surprisingly amazing! He knew every line, how to express said lines with perfect expression, got all the movements down perfectly, he was incredible! We felt for sure we had this contest in the bags, so we filled the theater up. No seat was left open as the curtain rose. What happened after that, I'll never know…
Gregory: "Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my life, or whether that station will be held by anyo-" *starts to choke before clearing throat* "…held by anyone el- anyone el-el-e-e-eeeee" *clears throat* "…anyone el-" *suddenly grabs his throat as if pulling something off as he suddenly stops to open his mouth, but no sound comes out*
Stephanie: (narrating) I couldn't believe it! Gregory had lost his voice! After all those days of perfect rehearsal, our lead had lost that which he had perfected. What's more, it never came back. For the rest of his life, Gregory Davidson lived his life as a mute. The doctors determined that it was hysteric muteness brought on by stage fright, but I knew better. It was Willard punishing him for taking his role and kissing me without my permission which motivated Willard to hang himself in the theater that had sabotaged the performance….
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Me: They say the spirit of Willard still haunts the theater to this very day. In fact, the theater strongly believes that whenever a front row seat isn't left open in their theater, the jealous ghost will sabotage the play and indeed whenever the front row was filled up, something always went wrong with the plays. But whenever one or more seats was empty, the play in that particular theater always went well. And it's not just the stage that's haunted. Some people have claimed to see doors open on their own and chairs fall off tables without provocation. Or do they…?
Is this so-called "Phantom of the Theater" story actually true? Or am I just singing the Music of the Night?
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FIND OUT IF THIS STORY IS TRUTH OR TALE ON SATURDAY. TOMORROW, A DENTIST GIVES A PATIENT A CURSED FILLING ON "OUTSIDE OBSERVATION: TRUTH OR TALE."